Artemisia plant named ‘Balfernlym’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Artemisia  plant named ‘Balfernlym’, characterized by its dark green-colored, fern-like foliage and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Artemisia gmelinii.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfernlym’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArtemisia plant botanically known as Artemisia gmelinii and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfernlym’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, theNetherlands during the summer 2016. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Artemisia cultivars having fern-likefoliage that thrive in full sun for use as an accent plant in acontainer or a groundcover in the landscape.

The new Artemisia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Artemisia gmeliniibreeding selection coded A22, not patented, characterized by its mediumcream-colored disc florets, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous,upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar isunknown. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during August2017 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2017 in Hem, the Netherlands and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfernlym’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Artemisia plant:

-   -   1. Dark green-colored, fern-like foliage; and    -   2. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having darker green-colored foliage, red-coloration instems, reduced growth vigor, more branches per plant, and a moresemi-upright growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Artemisia cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is the Artemisia cultivar ArtemisiaMakana Silver, ‘TNARTMS’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,968. However, incomparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘TNARTMS’in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color that is        greener than plants of ‘TNARTMS’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘TNARTMS’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have red coloration in the stems        which is different from plants of ‘TNARTMS’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalfoliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographsdiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description,which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfernlym’. The plants wereapproximately 18 weeks old. The plants were grown in three-quartcontainers for approximately 8 weeks in an outdoor nursery in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and onepinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfernlym’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Balfernlym’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2021 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 18weeks old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in three-quart containers for approximately 8 weeks inan outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinchesprior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant. Prior totransplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse inWest Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average highof 79.5° F. (26.4° C.) to an average low of 68.5° F. (20.3° C.), andsupplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during shortdays. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Artemisia gmelinii ‘Balfernlym’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Artemisia gmelinii breeding            selection coded A22, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 days at 70-72° F.            (21-22° C.).        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days at 70-72° F. (21-22° C.).        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine to medium thickness.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderate growth vigor, upright-mounded growth habit.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 (−30° F. to −20° F./−34.4° C. to            −28.9° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 25.0 cm. Width: Approximately 45.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity: Approximately 9.        -   Branches.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 20.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent            with clear, transparent glandular pubescence. Color of young            stems: 146D. Color of mature stems: 146C with a heavy            overlay of 187A, becomes woody 199A with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:            Approximately 22. Fragrance: Strong, slightly sweet. Form:            Simple, pinnatisect, bipinnately dissected. Arrangement:            Spiral, dextrorse.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute. Shape: Overall ovate. Margin:            Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Overall shape truncate to            rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Overall length:            Approximately 8.0 cm. Overall width: Approximately 7.0 cm.            Length of leaflet: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width of leaflet:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Punctate            glandular. Texture of lower surface: Densely appressed            pubescence of 155D. Color of upper surface of young foliage:            137B with venation of 191C. Color of lower surface of young            and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 191D            and 146B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A            with venation of 191C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfernlym’ requires a vernalization            treatment to flower. Flowers are not observed in first year            of growth. For this species, flowers are inconspicuous disc            florets only and not of ornamental significance.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Artemisia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Artemisia plant named ‘Balfernlym’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 